Judgement Test Question 83 – Policy and operations blame each other after public criticism
Read the scenario and rate every action independently. Several actions can receive the same rating.
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Scenario
An external report criticises long delays in a public service. The policy director says operational teams failed to implement the design properly. The operations director says the policy created requirements that cannot be delivered with current resources. Both areas are preparing separate responses and asking you to endorse their account. Staff morale is falling as internal blame circulates, and senior leaders need an agreed response by the following day. You oversee both areas and need to address the immediate criticism while identifying what must change.
Rate the actions
For each action, choose Counterproductive, Ineffective, Fairly Effective or Effective.
Action A
Bring both directors together around the evidence and user impact, separate immediate fixes from policy choices and agree shared responsibilities for the response.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action B
Draft a neutral statement saying both areas will review the findings and provide a fuller response later.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action C
Defend your own area and provide senior leaders with evidence showing where the other directorate failed.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action D
Wait for media interest to reduce before bringing the directors together, as calmer discussion is likely to be more productive.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Click to reveal the answer
- Action A: Effective
- Action B: Fairly Effective
- Action C: Counterproductive
- Action D: Ineffective
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